Queen’s Speech - new legislation that could affect you

New laws to keep the lowest paid workers out of tax will be included in the Queen’s Speech but plans to scrap the Human Rights Act (HRA) are expected to be slowed down amid intense opposition.

David Cameron vowed not to “waste a single moment” in delivering his manifesto promises as the first Conservative-only Queen’s Speech in ​19 years is ​due to be formally unveiled​ today (May 27)​.

​Schedule:​

11.15am: State opening of parliament begins.

11.30am: The Queen delivers her speech.

2.30pm: Queen’s speech debate ​begins.

What to expect:​

​​EU referendum

Having committed to holding an EU referendum before the end of 2017, the subject ​is ​expected be included in the Queen’s Speech.

​​City devolution

Government plans to devolve more powers to English cities​ ​​​in areas such as housing, transport, planning and policing​,​​ with Greater Manchester becoming the blueprint​, p​art of the party’s pledge to create a Northern Powerhouse​.

​​Human Rights Act

The government has pledged to abolish the Human Rights Act in favour of a new British Bill of Rights, breaking the formal link between British courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

​​Income tax

During the election campaign, Cameron promised that there would be no rise in income tax, VAT or national insurance before 2020.

​​Immigration

​​The government has promised a crackdown on illegal immigration, set​ting​ out new offences to try to control and reduce migration​, includ​ing​ giving police the power to seize the wages paid to illegal workers as the “proceeds of crime”.

​​Housing

​Widely expected that ​the right-to-buy scheme​ will be revived​, to help more than one million people buy their first homes.

​​Scotland

The Prime Minister has pledged to include a bill, based on ​a cross-party Smith Commission agreement, giv​ing​ Holyrood powers ​over setting income tax rates and control​s ​o​v​er ​VAT and welfare.

​​Employment

​​​Amongst the announcements, the government ​is pushing​ to create two million more jobs and three million more apprenticeships over the course of the Parliament funded by reducing the benefit cap from £26,000 to £23,000.

​​Strike laws

Sajid Javid, the new business secretary, has said the government will prioritise reforming strike laws, promis​ing​ “more detail” in the Queen’s Speech.

​​NHS

Cameron ​has ​pledged ​to ​boost NHS funding ​by at least £8bn a year by 2020​, promi​sing to create a seven-day NHS and 5,000 new GPs.

​​Communications and Data

​Plans to extend surveillance over new forms of communication are likely to be outlined.

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